finding a lawyer when you can't find one to represent you

by Prof. Karelle Cassin Sr. 4 min read

Contact the city courthouse. Seek free lawyer consultations. Look to legal aid societies. Visit a law school. Contact your county or state bar association. Go to small claims court. Depending on your situation, you can employ a variety of strategies to get free legal advice or cheap legal assistance.

In a criminal proceeding, if you can't afford legal assistance, a court will appoint an attorney for you.
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How to Find Free Legal Help
  1. Contact the city courthouse.
  2. Seek free lawyer consultations.
  3. Look to legal aid societies.
  4. Visit a law school.
  5. Contact your county or state bar association.
  6. Go to small claims court.

Full Answer

How to find a lawyer in your area?

How to Find a Lawyer. 3. Run an attorney search at databases such as Avvo and Martindale Hubbell, which provide information such as practice areas, location, disciplinary records, and lawyer reviews. 4. Consult your local or state bar association’s attorney directory, which is a list of lawyers in your area.

How can I get a lawyer to refer me to someone?

You may want to seek out a lawyer referral service that participates in the American Bar Association-sponsored certification program, which uses a logo to identify lawyer referral programs that comply with certain quality standards developed by the ABA. My new job offers a prepaid legal services plan.

How to find a reliable lawyer?

There are many ways to find a reliable lawyer. One of the best is a recommendation from a trusted friend, relative, or business associate. Be aware, however, that each legal case is different and that a lawyer who is right for someone else may not suit you or your legal problem.

Do you have a regular lawyer?

Most people don't have a "regular" lawyer, in the sense that they have one or more doctors that they see at least annually. So how do you find the lawyer who's right for you?

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Can a lawyer choose not to represent someone?

Absolutely, an attorney has the right and free will to refuse to represent anyone. There are many reasons an attorney might decide not to represent someone: lack of money, conflict of interest, conflict of personalities, the attorney might not...

Why would a lawyer refuse to represent you?

Reasons a Lawyer Might Refuse a Case Client's lack of necessary finances for the case's complexity. Conflict of interest with client or opposing client/counsel. Personality differences that could affect communication. Personal experience with the type of case that affects attorney.

What is it called when you can't afford a lawyer?

When a court decides someone is "indigent" - with few assets and no funds to pay an attorney - generally either a private lawyer will be appointed by the court and paid with county funds, or a public defender program will be appointed to represent the person.

How do I decide what kind of lawyer to get?

Here are a few questions to help you determine what type of law would be a good fit for you:How Much Do You Like to Argue?How Motivated You Are by Money?How Much Control Do You Need Over Your Work Life?How Much Interaction Do You Need With Other People?What Do You Like to Do?

What are the four responsibilities of lawyers?

It describes the sources and broad definitions of lawyers' four responsibilities: duties to clients and stakeholders; duties to the legal system; duties to one's own institution; and duties to the broader society.

What is unethical for a lawyer?

Attorney misconduct may include: conflict of interest, overbilling, refusing to represent a client for political or professional motives, false or misleading statements, knowingly accepting worthless lawsuits, hiding evidence, abandoning a client, failing to disclose all relevant facts, arguing a position while ...

What's the difference between attorney and lawyer?

Attorney vs Lawyer: Comparing Definitions Lawyers are people who have gone to law school and often may have taken and passed the bar exam. Attorney has French origins, and stems from a word meaning to act on the behalf of others. The term attorney is an abbreviated form of the formal title 'attorney at law'.

What are your Miranda rights?

The following is the standard Miranda warning: "You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law. You have the right to speak to an attorney, and to have an attorney present during any questioning.

Can I represent myself in court?

Do I have to have a lawyer or can I represent myself? You have a right to represent yourself in court in a civil case. If you choose to represent yourself, the court will hold you to the same standards as if you were a lawyer. Some cases are simple and straightforward.

What are the 4 types of lawyers?

Bankruptcy Lawyer. Bankruptcy lawyers are experts in the U.S. Bankruptcy Code, and handle insolvency issues for individuals or corporations. ... Business Lawyer (Corporate Lawyer) ... Constitutional Lawyer. ... Criminal Defense Lawyer. ... Employment and Labor Lawyer. ... 6. Entertainment Lawyer. ... Estate Planning Lawyer. ... Family Lawyer.More items...

How do I know if my lawyer is good?

So if you're curious, use these five quick ways to research whether your lawyer is legit:State Bar Profile. Every lawyer who is licensed to practice law in your home state must be listed in your state bar association's directory. ... Google / Search Engines. ... Yelp. ... The Attorney's Own Website. ... Third-Party Rating Groups.

How do I get a personal lawyer?

Take time to search for the right lawyer.Ask family, friends, or co-workers for recommendations.Check with your state and local bar associations.Consult lawyer referral services offered by a union or community group you belong to.

How to get a feel for an attorney?

One way to get a feel for an attorney’s practice is to be observant when you go for your first consultation.

What to do if something feels off?

If something just feels off, you should move on and find an attorney with whom you have a better rapport.

What is the most reliable reference?

Personal references can be some of the most reliable references you will find. You can also ask a lawyer you know and trust, even if they don’t practice in the area of law in which you need l egal help. They may be able to recommend colleagues who can handle your case.

Is a lawyer an attorney?

The terms "lawyer" and "attorney" have a lot in common, but not all lawyers are attorneys.

Is it necessary to hire a lawyer?

Although an attorney isn’t always necessary when dealing with legal situations, if you’ve decided you want to hire a lawyer, you may now be wondering how you go about finding a good one. Before you begin your search to find a lawyer, remember there are different types of lawyers, from estate planning to criminal defense.

What Could Happen When You Find a Lawyer?

With the right lawyer on your side, you can go into a legal battle with confidence. Your attorney will have the knowledge, tools, and resources to put together a strong case, helping to increase your odds of having a ruling in your favor.

Why Is Finding a Lawyer Important?

An experienced lawyer in the area of your case will understand the necessary steps to improve your chances of having a favorable ruling. When working on other similar cases, a lawyer can also get a better feel for the requirements and regulations around your legal issue. Legal problems and the process of resolving them can get very complicated, so having the right legal representation will make it easier. Your lawyer can also help you understand your rights in the legal system.

How to secure a lawyer?

In order to secure a lawyer on your case, you will need to sign the fee agreement and pay any required fees up front, such as a retainer. Once you have decided a on a lawyer and started moving forward with the legal process, your lawyer will take over and include his or her name on all legal documentation as your representative for the case.

Raymond Andrew Grimes

Some lawyers are more cautious than others when it comes to lawsuit limitation cases.

Michael T Warshaw

You should request a copy of your file and seek the opinion of another attorney as soon as possible. The Verbal Threshold is always a challenge, but many cases are still settled and litigated due to the existence of permanent injuries.

Mark R Faro

Each attorney has his/her own reasons to take or refuse a case. They are not taking your case perhaps because they have estimated that the odds of you winning don't justify either the amount they will make or the investment in time and money to pursue it, for them. Or for reasons not to do with your case itself.

William J Popovich

A physician would need to determine if your physical complaints as well as the premature birth of your child was causally related to the auto accident. As to the reason why your attorney dropped your case, more information would be needed.

Anthony Francis Belotta

Contact a different attorney to discuss the facts and circumstances of your case.

Michael David Lindner Jr

It's possible you would have a case. Verbal threshold in New Jersey is tough but not insurmountable. You can use AVVO's find a lawyer tool for help.

Theodore Charles Levy

Have you consulted with qualified personal injury attorneys? If not, search Avvo and/or justice.org, ask those you trust and respect for recommendations. If you have, then you may not have a viable case. Has your doctor commented on whether the premature birth was related to the crash? I do hope you and your baby are well.

How Can I Find a Lawyer To Help Me?

A lot of times people have a hard time finding a lawyer because as they put it, they “C an’t find an attorney to take my case.” This actually happens a lot to people who are trying to find a respectable lawyer to help them with their case. There are a lot of reasons why a lawyer might not be inclined to take your case.

How Do I Choose the Right Lawyer?

While they both went to law school, an attorney is someone who passed the bar and is practicing law; a lawyer is someone who went to law school and has had the proper training but does not practice law. If you are having problems with the law and need legal representation, you would call an attorney for help. However, while there is a distinction between the two when you use a lawyer to refer to someone trying your case, it’s okay as many people don’t realize that there is a difference.

How to find a good lawyer?

First, narrow your attorney search to the specific area of law that your case involves. Look under that category in all the common places, yellow pages, internet sites, etc. Call or set an appointment to meet & discuss your case. If you're have trouble determining exactly what type of lawyer to meet with, call your local County Bar Association, State Bar Association, or inquire at any local Legal Assistance agencies or groups in your area for help. If there is a law school near you, many will have a community legal assistance office. These are good places to inquire to get you pointed in the right direction.

Why won't my lawyer take my case?

If the case is one which is charged by the hour or on a flat fee. There are three basic reasons lawyers won’t take the case. You are the plaintiff, and you don’t have a legitimate claim. You are the plaintiff and the lawyer knows that the legal fees will cost substantially more than you have a chance of winning.

What does "no lawyer will take my case" mean?

When I hear someone lament (as I often hear) that “no lawyer will take my case,” this is usually coming from someone who believes they are a victim of some injustice, who wants to sue somebody to right that perceived wrong. In other words, they are a potential plaintiff in a lawsuit for money damages. In the USA, and perhaps in some other jurisdictions (which I am not familiar with), the law allows a lawyer to take on a plaintiff client’s case on a “contingency” basis, meaning (A) the client doesn’t have to pay anything up front, (B) the client doesn’t owe the lawyer any fee unless the lawyer wins the case (or negotiates an agreeable settlement before trial), and (C) the lawyer’s fee is based on a pre-agreed percentage of however much money the lawyer ultimately recovers for that client. The expenses of the lawsuit, as well as the lawyer’s percentage fee, are deducted from the recovered fund, as are any other liens against the fund (such as, medical bills related to the injury) before the remaining funds are disbursed to the client. Lawyers who routinely take contingency cases are happy to offer a free initial consultation, during which they decide whether their firm wants to take on your case. For them, that initial consultation (and getting people to call in and set up an appointment for one) is their primary marketing tool.

What does it mean when someone says no lawyer will take your case?

When I hear someone lament (as I often hear) that “no lawyer will take my case,” this is usually coming from someone who believes they are a victim of some injustice, who wants to sue somebody to right that perceived wrong. In other words, they are a potentia

How many parties are involved in a lawsuit?

But that’s not your situation. Every lawsuit has at least two parties: at least one plaintiff (the person who is suing, making affirmative claims for some kind of legal relief, whether that be asking for a money judgment, or some other kind of court order commanding an opponent to do something or refrain from doing something), and at least one defendant (the person who is being sued). Someone who is being sued as a defendant also has the right, in most courts, to counter-sue the original plaintiff (this is called a “counterclaim”) or sue one or more of the other people who were sued by the original plaintiff, his original co-defendants (this is called a “cross-claim”) or, as in your case, sue somebody else entirely, who had not previously been involved in the original case. That’s what happened to you — you were brought into the case as a third-party defendant, which means one of the original defendants decided that if he owed the original plaintiff money, it was in his view because of something wrong that you did, and therefore, he brought you into the case so that the original plaintiff’s claim against him, and his claim against you, could be decided together, in a single trial, to avoid possible inconsistent results if separate trials were held.

Why do attorneys refuse to take cases?

Maybe it’s because they are too busy. Maybe it’s because they don’t specialize in that area of the law.

Can you take money if you have no money?

If you’ ve got no money, then nobody can take your money, even if they get a judgment against you — you haven’t got anything for them to take (and what little you do have, would be protected by exemptions built into the debtor-insolvency laws of every US state and relied upon by the US federal bankruptcy laws as well.

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